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A Frigid End to Fall in November

All Climate Blog Posts

Jan 22, 2014

Lake Effect Snow in North Carolina? It’s Happening Today!

When you hear the term “lake effect snow”, you probably think of the Great Lakes phenomenon that gives cities like Buffalo, NY, several feet of snow each winter. But this morning, thanks to a quirk of our cold weather, lake effect snow is happening right here in North Carolina! Radar and surface observations from around…

Jan 10, 2014

December Brings a Wet End to a Wet Year

Monthly statistics for December 2013:Statewide Average Precipitation: 5.75 inches (12th wettest since 1895)Statewide Average Temperature: 44.65°F (27th warmest since 1895)* Values generated from preliminary numbers Both minimum and maximum temperatures in December were generally just a bit above normal, and otherwise typical for December. The big news for the close of the year was the continued wet…

Jan 7, 2014

Rare Air: A Look at the Cold Air Outbreak on January 7

We recently saw — and felt — some of the coldest temperatures in more than a decade all across the state. On Tuesday morning, much of the coast dropped into the teens, including 17°F in Wilmington and 13° in Elizabeth City. Temperatures reached digit-numbing single digits in the Piedmont, as Raleigh hit 9°, Charlotte hit…

Dec 17, 2013

Winter Storm Memories from Blog Readers and Writers

Last week, we looked ahead to the upcoming winter. Today, we want to look back and share a few stories of memorable winter storms as told by blog readers and writers alike. We hope you’ll enjoy reminiscing about some of these events along with us! From blog reader David DuMond: One of the most remarkable…

Dec 13, 2013

Winter 2013-14 Outlook for North Carolina

This is the final part of our 2013-14 winter outlook series, which includes our official winter outlook based on clues from global climate patterns. This post is by Bradley McLamb, a State Climate Office alumnus and meteorologist at the North Carolina Division of Air Quality. El Niño/Southern Oscillation Computer model guidance has been very consistent…

Dec 11, 2013

Winter Outlook 2013-14: Forecasts from Winter Folklore

This is the third part in our four-part 2013-14 winter outlook series. Our previous posts looked at the causes and impacts and climatology of major snow and ice events. Our breakdown of this winter’s forecast begins with a look at some popular pieces of winter weather folklore. We will begin by shedding some light on…

Dec 9, 2013

Winter Outlook 2013-14: How Rare are our Big Winter Events?

This is the second part in our four-part 2013-14 winter outlook series. The first post recalled some major winter storms in North Carolina and their causes and impacts, and this one discusses the frequency of these events. Nearly every year in North Carolina, a handful of minor winter weather events cause closings, delays, and disruptions…

Dec 5, 2013

Winter Outlook 2013-14: Anatomy of a Winter Storm

This is the first part in our four-part 2013-14 winter outlook series. The first two posts this year will look back at some memorable major snow and ice storms in North Carolina. When it comes to major weather events, North Carolina is often known most for its hurricanes and springtime thunderstorms. However, our state is…

Dec 3, 2013

A Frigid End to Fall in November

Monthly statistics for November 2013:Statewide Average Precipitation: 3.84 inches (34th wettest since 1895)Statewide Average Temperature: 47.32°F (26th coldest since 1895)* Values generated from preliminary numbers November Brings a Cold, Dry End to Autumn Temperatures in November were cold — maximum, minimum and mean daily temperatures ranked in the top 10 coldest on record for many reporting sites…